Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new media.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
Okay, if that's enough to argue.

Don't wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information nation of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Lyrics taken from http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/g/green_day/american_idiot.html

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My favorite quote: people are effing idiots! Hello, American Idiot, kinda fits that. Perfectly. Media sucks, and look at stupid things like the commercial for The Wave. They expect us to run out and buy it because Vanessa Hudgens supposedly uses it, and we do! Are people really stupid enough to believe that she uses it? She's getting paid people! Look at how every single one of Miley Cyrus concerts is Always full. (Btw, she really sucks) It's because everyone has made her seem completely perfect, and that she can do no wrong, and this is the stupidest, greediest country, because all anyone cares about is having money, and having people know who they are. Most people get some strange joy out of having random people know their name. Me? It creeps me out. (have you ever had someone you don't know come up and say "Hi! (Insert your name here) What's up?" It is just weird! This song describes this perfectly. What is the enjoyment out of being famous? Not having the freedom to walk out of your own house without being bombarded by people who just want their fifteen minutes of fame? What kind of life is that? Sorry about my little rant, I get carried away easily.

I totally agree with Rock-Goddess. The song is about beeing you, and not beeing affected by the media. And face it, X--Ebony: You could never rule over America. And not to be bitchy, but America is kind of an idiotic country. I am glad I don't live there! Ok, they might be one of the most powerfull countries in the world, but the president is an idiot. I'm sorry, but I'm glad we have a king instead of a president. If you're wondring: Yes, I'm not an America-fan. And I honestly think Norway is the place to live.

Sheeple. That's what we are a nation of. American Idiots! No one does their homework, and most people believe what the media and governement people tell us. Sheeple. Being led to the slaughter. And because we don't know our own history! That's right. We don't know squat about American History. We may know some facts, but the reasons things happened are either watered down or completely twisted to suit the agenda of those telling the story. "Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist." -Garth S. Jowett and Victoria O'Donnell, Propaganda and Persuasion.

This song is saying that it is over-rated, be your own person, and don't let the media, control what you do. The media, and celebrities control everything we do now, and yeah America is stupid. Yes other countries have models, and fashion shows, like France, but America is the worst. We are the laziest, we just sit around and do very few every day, we practically crave the media, and we are obsessed with hearing about celebrities that are just horrible, and we don't even care what is going on. Global warming is going to happen, and usually all people think is 'eh whatever I won't be alive then', or 'Well that's a good thing we can walk around in bathing suits all the time' Not Right people! Sorry for my rant!

Alot of you got pretty close but What the song is really getting at is how media is tailored to implant ideas in peoples heads. It works so well that entire cultural movements are being manufactured daily. Trash tv and reality shows are there to foster negative emotions in people. Trash/smut/criminal behavior is glorified to keep the people in the gutter. Racism is cultivated in the media, why do you think mtv and others pump out so much Stereotype orientated content. Its like when people wind up liking music that is utterly horrible and devoid of any talent or musical merit. They only like it because its repeated over and over and over. Till you can't get away from it. Laws are passed based on propaganda campaigns like the whole second hand smoke nonesense, There is nothing (till this day) nothing concrete, no evidence whatsoever, that smoking has a large impact on the health of people who do not smoke, there never was. But Every idiot and their mother is convinced that youll die of cancer if someone lights up next to you. Way to instigate paranioa! Now the new thing is salt and overwieght people. This Govt is driving us to ruin and they do it in our name and funded by us! We have the right. And actually it is our duty to rebel. Govt's power comes from its people, and they have you so wrapped up in tv nonesense that most don't even care. The founding fathers knew we would have to rebel again that's why we have the rights we do. If they take those rights away we are slaves through and through. . And anyone who would support the removal of such rights is an enemy of the american people.

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